usnatarchives:

Fifty years ago, on February 20, 1962, Astronaut John H. Glenn, Jr., became the first American to orbit the Earth. With the world watching the historic and live-televised event, Glenn orbited the Earth three times in his space capsule, Friendship 7. Four hours and 55 minutes after ignition, John Glenn and Friendship 7 returned to Earth and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean.

We’re celebrating the 50th anniversary with a special video display of “Friendship 7,” a film produced in 1962 by NASA that is now part of our holdings. And if you can’t make to Washington, DC, you can watch this special 5-minute version.